Markell’s statement leaves no wiggle room.
NEWARK – State Treasurer Jack Markell released the following statement Tuesday in response to the Minner-Carney administration’s recent directive to school districts and charter schools to prepare to cut their operating budgets by 8 percent: “Delawareans from all across the state have told me in the past few days how upset they are that the Minner-Carney administration has not ruled out teacher layoffs as part of statewide budget cuts for FY 2009. Let me be clear – as governor I will not cut the education budget in ways that force teacher layoffs or take necessary resources out of the classroom.
The state is going to be facing some tough budget choices and Markell makes a strong case for why we can’t afford to view teachers as just another expense.
I have said before that the single biggest factor in a child’s education and within the control of a school is a caring, qualified teacher. We cannot afford to look at these teachers as budget cuts – many districts are targeting hundreds of teacher layoffs as a likely alternative to meet the budget cut directive. That’s unacceptable. We need to continue to find ways to attract and retain qualified caring teachers for our children.
Markell also demonstrates the kind of thinking that makes a clear case for why he is the right person to be in charge as the state faces a tough financial period.
As a DEFAC member, I’m well aware of how big our shortfall is – and the economic challenges the state and the nation are facing. Dealing with this shortfall without sacrificing our children’s education requires vision and leadership. Tough times also spur government to take steps it wouldn’t otherwise take. When I met with the school district superintendents recently, I bluntly told them that the state’s revenue situation requires they work together to combine their purchases on textbooks and other supplies to save money. Budget cuts are unfortunately also part of the solution, but not at the expense of our kids and our teachers. My proven record of saving the state money can help school district superintendents come together to combine their purchasing efforts, which will save millions of dollars per year. Similarly, a change in the way the state funds school transportation can save millions more. Those savings ideas have been available for months thanks to Vision 2015’s LEAD Committee.